Battery types & distribution, over time [RE-wrenches]

[Bob-O Schultze, Electron Connection]

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Andy and all,
I agree that the flooded lead-acid are the best bang for the buck in 
most remote homes. I used Trojan exclusively for many years, but I've 
moved away from them after several bad batches of L-16s had cell 
failures three years or so into a well maintained life. I can only 
surmise that QC went into the crapper at some point and, of course, 
Trojan wasn't copping to it. I've switched to Dyno. These are made in 
WA and were what Trace Engineering (remember them?) used for years on 
their burn-in stations. Same specs as the Trojan L-16 but five pounds 
heavier. Some of that weight could be case or electrolyte capacity, 
but some has to be lead as well. More lead equals mo'betta, IMO.
Unfortunately, I've only been using them a couple of years, so time 
will tell...but not yet.
I too, set my bulk voltage set point higher than God intended it to 
be. Out, damned sulfation, out! Since I also use Hydrocaps, frequent 
watering isn't needed for the first five years or so until the Hcaps 
start to deplete. I eyeball them every month or so. The SB50 is still 
the best way to go for PV (I use shunt load regulation for my hydro 
and wind inputs) , but I'm happily anticipating Outback's MPPT 
offering coming soon. I may have a beta unit in my system by the end 
of July if all goes well.
Best,bob-O

>
>A piece I'd like to add to the watering issue:
>My own home system has a 1kW array, 24V with 12 Trojan T105s: very mundane
>stuff. The array is pretty hot relative to battery size, around a C/20
>charge rate sometimes. We use an SB50 Solar Boost. I have the bulk setpoint
>pretty high, around 30V, and it runs to 31.2 or so in winter. Most sunny
>days we charge full year-round.
>I add water twice a year, and I never have exposed plates from having waited
>too long. I think that one of the unheralded benefits of the Solar Boost is
>that it uses the net charge rate needed to maintain bulk setpoint in order
>to determine acceptance (absorption) duration before dropping into float.
>That is, if the batteries are in good shape and able to absorb finish
>current, there is no time-determinate absorption cycle. So I gas every
>cycle, but not to an excess that necessitates frequent watering. We also the
>remote shunt feature, so the absorption cycle remains more or less
>independent of the system loads, too. It's a pretty nice unit.
>Allan at +E

-- 
Bob-O Schultze, Electron Connection
PO Box 203, Hornbrook, CA 96044
800.945.7587 or 530.475.3402
fax 530-475-3401
www.electronconnection.com

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